Exclusive Giveaway: 25 Amazon and THE LEAGUE OF DELPHI by Chris Everheart

Ten years after his father’s mysterious death, 17-year-old Zach returns secretly to his wealthy hometown in search of answers. Why did his mother — who recently died — move him away and change his name, forbidding him to ever reveal his true identity or return home? Desperate to reconnect with this seemingly ideal place, Zach is troubled when a grade school friend commits suicide and no one seems to care. Ashley, a local teenager on the fringe, piques his interest with whispers of a secret committee that runs the town and pressures kids into dangerous overachievement. Finding a hidden passage into the committee’s impenetrable headquarters Zach and Ashley discover a dark connection to Ancient Greece and the Oracle at Delphi. Their suspicions are confirmed, but the conspiracy is more terrifying and dangerous than they imagined, sending them running for their lives and praying to get out alive.

1 paperback THE LEAGUE OF DELPHI (autographed and numbered – first edition of 100)

3 Kindle downloads of THE LEAGUE OF DELPHI

$25 Amazon gift card

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-Ends on 2/26/2013 11:59 pm EST
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Bio:

Chris Everheart is an award-winning author of books and short stories for middle-graders, young adults, and adults and an occasional filmmaker. A lifelong reluctant reader, TV junkie, and movie lover, Chris infuses the pacing and thrills of visual storytelling into all his stories. When not writing, he can be found hiking in the mountains near home, watching television, or learning about history, science, and archaeology. He’s a Minnesota native living in East Tennessee with his family.

Description:

Ten years after his father’s mysterious death, 17-year-old Zach secretly returns to his wealthy hometown in search of answers. Why did his mother move him away and change his name, then go into hiding to die alone? Why did she forbid him to ever reveal his true identity or return home? Desperate to reconnect with this seemingly ideal place, Zach is troubled when his grade school friend Sutton commits suicide and no one seems to care. Zach foolishly tries to rekindle his childhood crush with Katie but encounters an ambitious teen with secrets of her own. Meanwhile her sister Ashley, a teenager on the fringe, intrigues him with whispers of a secret committee that runs the town and pressures kids into dangerous overachievement. Zach and Ashley find a hidden passage into the committee’s impenetrable headquarters—the college’s monolithic library that no one is allowed to enter. Inside they discover a dark connection to Ancient Greece and the Oracle at Delphi. Their suspicions are confirmed, but the conspiracy is more terrifying and dangerous than they imagined, sending them running for their lives and praying to escape the League of Delphi alive.

Interview (feel free to do any or all of the questions, including or excluding the lightning round)

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.

The League of Delphi: A lone teen. A suspicious death. An ancient conspiracy. History's darkest secrets hide in plain sight.

--How did you get the idea for the story?

My wife loves conspiracy theories and I was developing a story about a group controlling the world for their own gain when I happened to read/see something about the ancient Oracle at Delphi. I started to ask the magic “What if?” questions: “What if a group’s secret knowledge came from a 3,000 year tradition of prophecy? What if someone on the inside wanted to blow the lid off it for their own reasons? And what if that someone was a teenager?” THE LEAGUE OF DELPHI is the result – 17-year-old Zach secretly returns to his wealthy hometown and learns that the deaths of his parents and a childhood friend are tied to a secret government with mysterious links to Ancient Greece and the Oracle at Delphi.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

I would like to hang out with Ashley. She’s a girl on the fringe, who is suspicious of the status quo in her town. The main character, Zach, can’t help but pay attention to her. She’s victimized by the system and she doesn’t fit in, but she knows who she is and wants to get away from it so she can be herself. She’s smart and independent – very much like my wife, who I always enjoy having dinner with!

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

Yes, I am working on the second book in the Delphi series. Also we’ll soon release ZomProm: A high school zombie romance (novella); and the first book in a series about a 14-year-old archaeologist.

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar set-up or style)

It’s kind of tricky as the author to compare my books to others. I have been told (honestly and unsolicited) by a couple of readers that they liked THE LEAGUE OF DELPHI as much as THE HUNGER GAMES, by which I am VERY flattered and glad readers are enjoying it that much! Also, I hope THE LEAGUE OF DELPHI is like UNWIND by Neal Schusterman – a thrilling story about a teen boy fighting a corrupt system to save himself and others.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

I read a lot of different stuff – fiction and nonfiction – and there’s an ever-rotating favorites list. Recent favorites are MUSIC OR DEATH by British writer Dave Owen, also THE RIDGE by Michael Koryta, and UNWIND by Neal Schusterman. All time favorites are CANERY ROW by John Steinbeck and A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens.

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, without a doubt! Not because I’m an Anglophile or idolize London of that time, but because of the amazing things that happen to Scrooge in one night.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?
I can’t listen to music while I write because the voice of the singer disrupts the voice of the story I’m trying to put down. Sometimes I listen to classical music – a favorite is the album HOROWITZ AT HOME, a delightful selection of classical piano by the great Vladimir Horowitz. I usually have my noise-cancelling headphones on and listen to a nature soundtrack. Right now as I write this, I’m in a coffee shop listening to rain and water dripping in a cave. Also, the *right amount* of coffee is very helpful.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Invisibility – because I’m fascinated by how people act and why – and that power would let me get close to them to listen in and watch. But does invisibility include smell too? Because I had lasagna for dinner last night and I’m pretty sure people are “sensing” the garlic.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

Hike. I live in the mountains and there’s so much beautiful scenery here. I like to get out where it’s quiet and decompress and be inspired.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?

“Go up and talk to her, you knucklehead, she’s just as scared as you are!”

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

Yes, I take the role of story in our world as sacred and universal. Story can express what we’re not aware of or don’t want to talk about – which is a UNIVERSE of stuff! It’s vitally important to our collective experience to have well-developed and well-told stories. Together the writer and reader create that form of expression. Books/films/TV/theater that are high-minded, morbid, or tragic are no more valuable than ones that are fun and entertaining. So, read what you like – and let kids read what they like.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate

Edward or Jacob? Eddie

Hockey or soccer? Soccer – because the after-game riots are more hand-to-hand combat than gangs turning over police cars.

Ebook or paper? I’m diggin’ my Kindle.

Salty or sweet? Right now, salty – I haven’t had lunch yet.

Beach or mountains? MOUNTAINS!

Phone call or email? Email is the worst form of communication because there’s no inflection but I in many cases I prefer it to the 7-step telephone sign-off.

Early bird or night owl? Night owl.

Dog or cat? Molly made me a dog person.

Messy or neat? Want to impress you and say “Neat,” but “Messy” is closer to the truth.

Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas – if they’re coming for me, I prefer a clean kill.

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I am Brandi Kosiner and this is my personal book blog. I am a 30-something stay-at-home mom to two girls. I love going to Disney, playing video and board games with my husband. I love Young Adult books, with a focus on paranormal romance, fantasy, dystopia and contemporary, especially dealing with illnesses, tough issues such as cutting, eating disorders, issues at home, etc.

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